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We need to start targeting the companies who profit from it: the telcos who deliver the calls (i.e. AT&T, Verizon, etc.). That’s the only way to get a solution.
by orev 6y ago
We need to start targeting the companies who profit from it: the telcos who deliver the calls (i.e. AT&T, Verizon, etc.). That’s the only way to get a solution.
Telcos get a multiple benefits from spam: they charge fees to the originating carriers, and in the long term it kills voice service which they have been eager to shut down for at least a decade. Data is clearly the future and that’s where they make most of their money. People giving up on wireline voice allows them to more easily make the argument to shut down all that old wireline infrastructure.
- nostromo 6y agoTelcos don’t have the legal authority to block spammers. They are required to fulfill the call. Think of it as a voice version of net neutrality. This is a legal problem that requires a legal solution. Just two years ago the FCC gave telcos the ability to block spam texts (over Twilio’s objections). But no permission was given to block voice. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna947091 https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna94...
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- Broken_Hippo 6y agoI don't think they have to fulfill the call. I can block a number from calling me - and they don't have to let the call go through. They don't have to let folks harass. It isn't even a technical issue: "mobile companies can in fact block most robocalls but choose not to, in large part because it costs money to do so and at the same time they make money from those calls." (from the article). In other words, they can still allow me to choose to block those calls, but it seems they only really offer it to non-prepaid customers, charge a fee for the service, and don't exactly advertise that they have the ability.
- Frost1x 6y agoThat's not entirely true: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/151/text?overview=closed https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/151... There's an authentication piece (sec 4) that allows telecos to block calls that are unauthentic in origin.
- darkarmani 6y ago> Telcos don’t have the legal authority to block spammers. They are required to fulfill the call. Can they block callers that spoof their phone number? That's all i need.
- webinvest 6y agoI just need a block against people that spoof their phone number. The rest I can prosecute in court